Shoe last



W. G. KOTYK SHOE LAST' Oct. 31, 1961 Filed March 17. 1960 immlm 3,006,007 SHOE LAST Walter G. Kotyk, 2131A E. Prairie, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Mar. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 15,620 10 Claims. (Cl. 12136) This invention relates to shoe lasts and more particularly to an improved shoe last having a reinforced toe construction.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an improved shoe last having a reinforced toe construction which enables the last to better withstand rough handling without afiecting its usability; the provision of such a last which permits repeated usage thereof for longer periods of time than was heretofore possible with conventional lasts; the provision of a shoe last of this type which provides a tacking area for the insole which is closer to the tip of the toe of the last than in conventional lasts; and the provision of such a shoe last which is of simple and economical construction and the use of which reduces labor and manufacturing costs. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of one form of a shoe last of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the toe portion of the last shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 offIG. 2; 1

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view similar to that of FIG. 2 but of the toe portion of a shoe last illustrating an alternative embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As is known, wooden shoe lasts have long been used in the manufacture of shoes. Such lasts consist essentially of a wooden block or form shaped like a human foot over which shoe uppers are drawn and lasted and the insole secured. In use, wooden lasts are subjected to repeated tacking as well as rough treatment and handling which tends to cause rapid deterioration of the last, particularly the toe portion thereof. Further, the toe plate heretofore utilized in conjunction with conventional wooden lasts has been unsatisfactory in that it frequently does not provide a tacking area for the insole close enough to the tip of the toe. These drawbacks are accentuated in the case of the so-called Italian style, needle-point or pointed toe shoes which have recently achieved great popularity. Thus, in use, the pointed toe portion of a conventional wooden last has a tendency to crack or break off and therefore has a very short use life. The present invention overcomes the stated shortcomings of conventional wooden shoe lasts through the provision of a novel reinforced toe construction.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a shoe last of the present invention generally designated 1. As shown, the last 1 is identical to conventional wooden shoe lasts except as to the reinforced toe portion thereof generally designated 3. Also, it will be understood that the last of the invention is utilized in the conventional manner in the manufacture of shoes.

Reinforced toe portion 3 of last 1 comprises a rod 5 extending from the tip 7 of toe portion 3 to adjacent the joint portion 9 of the last 1 at an angle upward from the sole 11. As shown, rod 5 is generally cylindrical, and

3,006,007 Patented Oct. 31, 1 961 is formed so that its outer end 13 conforms to the desired shape of the point of a toe. The inner end 15 of rod 5 is threaded as indicated at 17 and is received in a threaded socket 18 so as to securely anchor the rod in the last and prevent the rod from turning or otherwise moving. Rod 5 may be composed of any material having a hardness greater than that of wood, such as metal or certain types of plastic materials. Instead of being threaded at its inner end 15, rod 5 may be knurled or otherwise anchored so as to prevent movement.

At 19 is indicated a plug extending from the sole 11 of the last, at a point closely adjacent to tip 7 of toe portion 3, into rod 5 at an angle upward from the sole 11. Plug 19 is generally cylindrical in form, and is pressed into a threaded or notched hole 21 in rod 5. Alternative- 1y, it may be cemented into a suitable opening in rod 5.

Plug 19 is composed of a material such as plastic, Wood, leather or hard rubber which provides a tacking surface for the tacks employed in making shoes. The diameter and length of plug 19 may be varied; for example, it may be approximately to long and A" to /2" in diameter.

If desired, rod 5 may be additionally anchored against rotational movement by means of a pin 22. extending from the outer surface of one side of the last 1 through rod 5 to the outer surface of the other side of the last 1. As shown, this pin is of small diameter and may be composed of any suitable material such as wood, plastic or metal. It will be understood that pin 22 may, for example, extend from the sole 11 of last 1 through rod 5 to the upper surface of the joint portion 9 of the last rather than as shown in FIG. -1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the invention in which reinforced toe portion 23 generally comprises a rod 25 extending from the tip 27 of too portion 23 into the joint portion 29 of the last at a slight upward angle from the sole 31. Rod 25 is generally cylindrical in form throughout most of its length and at its outer end 33 conforms to the desired shape of tip 27 of toe portion 23. At its inner end 35, red 25 is knurled as indicated at 37 so as to be securely anchored against rotational movement.

At 39 is indicated a plug extending from the sole 31 of the last into rod 25 at a point adjacent the tip 27 of toe portion 23. 'As shown, plug 39 is pressed into notched hole 41 so as to be securely retained therein. If desired, the plug 39 may be pressed into a threaded hole or cemented in place with a suitable cement. Plug 39 is of such diameter (see FIG. 4) that it has side margins 43 extending outside the margins 45 of rod 25 thereby effectively anchoring rod 25 against rotational movement. As in the case of plug 17, plug 31 may be composed of any suitable material, such as a plastic material, adapted to receive tacks therein, and may be from A to Vs" in length and from i to in diameter.

At 47 is shown a nail extending from the sole 31 of the last through rod 25 and thence almost to the upper surface 49 of the joint portion 29 of the last. Nail 47 serves as a supplementary anchoring member to prevent rotational movement of rod 25. In place of nail 47, a metal, plastic or wood rod or a screw may be employed as supplementary anchoring means. Also, instead of extending from the sole of the last through rod 25 as shown, nail 47 may extend from one side of the last through rod 25 to a point adjacent the other side of the last.

It will be understood that the diameter and length of rod 5 in FIGS. 1-3 and rod 23 in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be varied depending upon whether the toe assumes a rounded form or comes to a very sharp point. In general, the diameter may range from 6" to for example, and the length may vary from 1" to 2 /2", for example.

The shoe lasts of the invention are thus provided with a reinforced toe construction which renders them strongor and more durable than those used heretofore. Also, the outer surfaces of plugs 19 and 39 respectively, by reason of their close proximity to the tip of the toe of the lasts, provide a tacking area for the insole closer to the tip of the toe.

It will be understood that not only may lasts of my invention be originally manufactured but that conventional lasts which have broken toes can be reworked to include the structure of this invention.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above descriptions or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A shoe last having a reinforced toe portion comprising a first member extending from the tip of the toe portion to adjacent the joint portion of the last at an angle upward from the sole of the last, means for preventing rotational movement of said first member, and a second member extending from the sole of the last at a point closely adjacent the tip of the toe portion of the last into said first member, said first member being composed of a material having a hardness greater than that of wood and said second member being composed of a material adapted to receive tacks therein.

2. A shoe last as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for preventing rotational movement of said first member comprises screw threads on the inner end of said first member.

3. A shoe last as defined in claim 1 where said means for preventing rotational movement of said first member comprises a knurled surface on the inner end of said first member.

4.v A shoe last as defined in claim 1 where said means for preventing rotational movement of said first member comprises a pin extending from an outer surface of th last into said first member;

5. A shoe last as defined in claim 1 wherein said second member is of smaller cross sectional area than said first member and is wholly contained within said first member.

6. A shoe last having a reinforced toe portion comprising a first member extending from the tip of the toe portion to adjacent the joint portion of the last at an angle upward from the sole of the last, and a second member extending from the sole of the last at a point closely adjacent the tip of the toe portion of the last into said first member, said first member being composed of a material having a hardness greater than that of wood and said second member being adapted to prevent rotational movement of said first member and being composed of a material adapted to receive tacks therein.

7. A shoe last as defined in claim 6 wherein a portion of said second member extends into the body of the last adjacent said first member to anchor said member against rotational movement.

8. A shoe last having a reinforced toe portion comprising a metal rod extending inwardly and upwardly from the tip of the toe portion of the last to adjacent the joint portion of the last, said rod having its outer end of a shape conforming to the desired shape of the toe of the last and having screw threads at its inner end to anchor it against rotational movement, and a plug extending from the sole of the last at a point closely adjacent the tip of the toe portion of the last into said rod, said plug being composed of a plastic material adapted to provide a tacking surface.

9. A shoe last having a reinforced toe portion comprising a metal rod extending inwardly and upwardly from the tip of the toe portion of the last to adjacent the joint portion of the last, said rod having its outer end of a shape conforming to the desired shape of the toe of the last, and a plug extending from the sole of the last at a point closely adjacent the tip of the toe portion of the last into said rod and adapted to anchor said rod against rotational movement, said plug being composed of a plastic material adapted to provide a tacking surface.

10. A shoe last having a reinforced toe portion comprising a metal rod extending inwardly and upwardly from the tip of the toe portion of the last to adjacent the joint portion of the last, said rod having its outer end of a shape conforming to the desired shape of the toe and having screw threads at its inner end to anchor it against rotational movement, a plug extending from the sole of the last at a point closely adjacent the tip of the toe portion of the last into said rod, said plug being composed of a plastic material adapted to provide a tacking surface, and a pin extending from an outer surface of said last through said metal rod.

No references cited. 

